What to do in London this May

The Prince

The Prince is the perfect place to enjoy warm summer sessions. The popular venue returns this month with a new retractable roof for its pub garden, perfect for eking out the warm months. The garden is an ideal sun trap and is the largest pub garden in London. It offers an exciting new menu of summer cocktails and new line-up of independent eateries. Newcomers include Homeslice Pizza and Jefferies, serving fried chicken. The venue has also been given a makeover with fresh decoration and an English Summer Garden filled with seasonal flowers and foliage, idea for alfresco dining.

The Prince, 14 Lillie Road, London SW6 1TT, +44 (0)7496 584766

Loewe

Loewe’s Gate bags have become some of the most popular bags for SS19. This month, the fashion house’s flagship store opens on London’s New Bond Street, bringing with it the brand’s stunning ready-to-wear, bags and covetable accessories. The elegant store has been designed by creative director Jonathan Anderson, with sweeping sculptural elements such as the central curved staircase, cylindrical, panoramic lift and poured concrete floors. The new store will also feature a pop-up space where Loewe can exhibit capsule collections and art projects.

Loewe, 41-42 New Bond Street, London W1S 2SQ, +44 (0)20 7499 0266

SushiSamba outdoor terrace

Located at the top of the Grade II-listed Market Building in Covent Garden, SushiSamba boasts one of the most desirable views in London. This month, the Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian fusion restaurant gives Londoners and visitors another reason to visit with the opening of its beautiful new outdoor terrace. Overlooking London’s skyline and the bustling shopping streets below, the new terrace will be one of the top places for al fresco drinking and dining in the city, ideal for making the most of the London sunshine. The restaurant’s Brazilian-inspired black and white geometric flooring has been extended into the terrace, offering a chic setting for SushiSamba’s premium cocktails and signature dishes.

SushiSamba, 35 The Market Building, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8RF, +44 (0)20 3053 0000

Riding House Café spring menu 

Riding House Café is one of London’s most popular brunch spots and now the restaurant has extended its popular menu to include some exciting new seasonal offerings. This modern all-day brasserie is celebrating the best of the season with delicious new dishes, including the showstopping truffled portobello and spinach wellington, a real winner whether you’re vegetarian or not, and a port-braised short rib, smoked mash and golden courgette combination. With tempting small sharing plates like mac and cheese, seared squid with chilli jam, and Brixham crab, you’ll be spoiled for choice – and be sure to leave room for pudding as the speculoos cheesecake is wonderfully indulgent. An innovative cocktail list accompanies the traditional drinks menu with favourites such as the Garden Leave, made with Hendrick’s gin, champagne, elderflower and lemon – the ultimate summer cocktail. The new spring menu is also available at the Rail House Café in Victoria and the Village East in Bermondsey.

Riding House Café, 43-51 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 7PQ, +44 (0)20 7927 0840

Vinegar Yard

London gets a new summer destination this month with Vinegar Yard. The al fresco eating, drinking and shopping location is set to define urban cool in the UK capital. Offering container pop-up shops, bars, street food vendors and art installations, it is a must-visit for those looking to make the most of the warmer days and nights in the city. Sample some of the best street food with a rotating food line-up of vendors, sample some of London’s best beer with taps from local craft breweries, and shop the best ethical and sustainable fashion at vintage traders, all with the striking backdrop of the Shard.

Vinegar Yard, St Thomas Street, London SE1 3QU

Parrillan

May is the perfect time to discover London’s outdoor terraces. This month a new terrace bar and table-top grill restaurant opens in the Coal Drops Yard development of King’s Cross. Called Parrillan, the exciting eatery comes from the team behind the renowned Barrafina restaurant group. The innovative feature at this new dining space is that guests cook for themselves; you order meat, fish and vegetables from the menu and then grill it all yourself on a portable charcoal oven that is wheeled to your table. Mediterranean-style dining is emphasised with options including red prawns, pluma iberica cuts of pork and vegetable parrillada ‒ grilled vegetable platter. With a top Spanish wine list and a dedicated list of Spanish gin and tonics, this is one of the coolest food destinations to try in London this summer.

Parrillan, Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4PW, +44 (0)20 7018 3339

2 May: Pergola Paddington

Taking inspiration from the Mediterranean’s laid-back atmosphere, Pergola Paddington is back for its summer season. One of last year’s top destinations, the venue is back for 2019 with a whole host of new food vendors, bookable daybeds and DJs. Set over two floors, Pergola Paddington features an open-air top deck as well as a downstairs area with partially raised roof – perfect for making the most of the warmer days. The new summer cocktail menu is sure to entice you, while every Thursday and Friday the Sundowner Hours last from 4-7pm, when selected drinks will be two for one.

Pergola Paddington, 5 Kingdom Street, London W2 6PY, +44 (0)7951 890484

Babbo

London is known for its constantly evolving food scene, with new restaurants opening every week. Among the city’s gourmet highlights this month is the first anniversary of the opening of vibrant Italian restaurant Babbo. Since it launched, Babbo has racked up an impressive clientele and has become known as one of the best Italian restaurants in Mayfair. It combines classic Italian recipes (some of which have been passed down over 100 years) and expansive 230-strong wine list with vibrant custom graffiti murals and a buzzing atmosphere. The modern Italian menu uses only the best British and Italian produce, with both pasta and bread made in-house every day. Standout dishes include the Ravioli Verdi, stuffed with fresh ricotta and aubergine, and the Tagliatelle. The restaurant also takes its desserts seriously, with inventive twists on classic Italian puddings such as the deconstructed tiramisu.

Babbo, 39 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4JQ, +44 (0)20 3941 8641

2 May: Skylight Rooftop at Tobacco Dock

Reopening on 2 May, Skylight Rooftop at Tobacco Dock is famous for its panoramic views, urban lawn games, expansive bar and street food, and the venue has become known as one of London’s best rooftop venues. New features for the 2019 summer season include all-new daybeds and private garden booths, ideal for those wanting to make the most out of the warmer days and balmy evenings. The large pergola and bar will be the perfect place to take advantage of the new seasonal cocktails, including large sharing options such as Pimm’s while street food from Yiro and Flipside will be on hand to ease your hunger pangs. Those looking for somewhere to watch top sporting events like the FA Cup Final and Wimbledon tennis championships can take advantage of the huge screens here too.

Skylight, Tobacco Dock, Pennington Street, London E1W 2SF  

2 May: Las Mexicanas at Queen of Hoxton

Queen of Hoxton is back this summer with another madcap theme. For summer 2019, the venue is transporting guests to the vibrant town of San Cristobel in Mexico, celebrating the season with tacos, tequila, giant frozen margaritas and Mexican female wrestling. Wild and wonderful Lola Gonzalez, the rebel queen of the Lucha Libre wrestling movement, will invite guests to learn moves in the wrestling ring and join in with a series of events, from tequila tasting to feminist embroidery. The food menu is a big draw this summer, with top Mexican delights from pulled chicken tacos to chilli cheese burgers and nachos, while the drinks menu features classic frozen margaritas and Watermelon Paloma’s and will be sure to be guests feeling cool. Keep an eye out this year for the rooftop day parties.  

Queen of Hoxton, 1-5 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3JX, +44 (0)20 7422 0958

10 May: Bob Bob Cité

Soho’s renowned restaurant Bob Bob Ricard is opening a sister venue in May. Bob Bob Cité is one of the most eagerly anticipated restaurant launches in the capital, and has taken five years to complete. The owner describes the new restaurant as a ‘brasserie for the 21st century’, and it celebrates fine British craftsmanship and French cuisine, marrying a sense of opulence with a dash of eccentricity. It has grand chandeliers and ‘press for champagne’ buttons ‒ which are famous in Bob Bob Ricard ‒ and it is set to be one of the most photographed eateries in London. Style is not without substance here, with a menu promising classic Gallic dishes such as French onion soup and escargots, and with an extensive wine list as well as 50 types of armagnac and vintage ports going back to 1945.

Bob Bob Cité, Level 3, 122 Leadenhall Street, London EC3V 4QT

21 May: Jardin Blanc

Two-Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc’s renowned secret garden restaurant Jardin Blanc is back for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019. Those looking for the ultimate day out at the show or a stunning gift for a loved one should explore the packages on offer at Jardin Blanc, where show-stopping plant displays meets elevated plant-based dining. Guests will be serenaded with live music while sipping glass of champagne on the terrace bar, or can indulge in craft gin cocktails made with spring botanicals. All Jardin Blanc’s menus have been exclusively designed by Raymond Blanc and include breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea options.

Jardin Blanc, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London Gate, Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4SR

24 May: Feria de Londres

Head to London’s South Bank on the last weekend of May to celebrate the Feria de Londres. The free event will invite Londoners and visitors to experience the vibrancy of Spanish culture, with a fiesta of delicious Spanish tapas, cocktails, tasting workshops, dancing and music. Transforming the banks of the Thames with exciting celebrations, this is the perfect place to eat, drink and be merry this May.